Breaking: Sensational F1 star in hospital after suffering cardiac arrest

Former Formula 1 star Wilson Fittipaldi Jr. is currently in hospital having suffered a cardiac arrest on Christmas Day.

Fittipaldi is the brother of two-time F1 champion Emerson, and featured in 38 grands prix between 1972 and 1975.

Fittipaldi’s condition was confirmed by his wife on Thursday following the incident on December 25, which is also the Brazilian’s birthday, that has left the 80-year-old sedated following the major health scare.

“During dinner, he choked on a piece of meat and suffered a lack of oxygen followed by cardiac arrest,” his wife posted on his Instagram account.

“He was resuscitated and is now sedated and intubated, we are waiting for him to wake up.

“He has a difficult post-surgical history of returning post-sedative, one day at a time, let’s wait.”

Fittipaldi’s son Christian, also a former F1 driver, was also at his bedside in hospital.

Hopes of recovery

Aside from grabbing three career points at a time when only the top six scored, Fittipaldi played a major role in setting up the only ever Brazilian team to compete in the sport, Fittipaldi-Copersucar.

Emerson joined the team which competed from 1975 to 1982, collecting three podiums and 44 points along the way.

His wife added: “Yesterday I received countless phone calls and kind messages of support for the whole family.

“I appreciate all the messages, I know they are the ones that give us strength in this very difficult time. Continue the positive vibes of health and restoration for Wilsinho. God will make the best!”

Further Reading:

Why we won’t see a young version of James Bond

James Bond producer Michael G. Wilson has explained why it is unlikely we will ever see a young version of 007 on the silver screen.

Over the course of the 60-year franchise, six actors have officially played Bond – Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig.

None of these men were younger than 30, and Wilson believes that Bond needs to be portrayed as a veteran due to the life experience the character has had to get him a ‘Double 0’ ranking.

“We’ve tried looking at younger people in the past. But trying to visualize it doesn’t work,” he previously told Deadline.

“Remember, Bond’s already a veteran. He’s had some experience.

“He’s a person who has been through the wars, so to speak. He’s probably been in the SAS or something. He isn’t some kid out of high school that you can bring in and start off. That’s why it works for a thirty-something.”

New James Bond to reimagine the character

Barbara Broccoli, the other Bond producer, has confirmed that the next instalment in the franchise will see a “reimagining” of the character depending on the actor selected for the role.

Craig was initially a controversial choice for the role due to his blonde hair and blue eyes which was a deviation from the dark-haired actors from the past. He would eventually win the hearts of fans through his performances, though, and went on to star in five movies – Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre and No Time to Die which proved to be his last.

Each actor who has played Bond has brought something different to the role, and any new star will need to do the same.

“When you change the actor you have to reimagine the direction the film’s gonna go on,” Broccoli said in a conversation with Empire.

“When you hire an actor, you’re hoping you’re going to spend a decade at least with them and make four or five or six films with them.

“So you have to think through, ‘What is the trajectory? What is that actor going to bring? How are you going to move the series into another direction?’

“It’s not just flicking through ‘Spotlight’ and saying, ‘Oh, there’s a guy who’s 6’1’.